On to Talia. With this chapter I figured I'd have Damian be a little snippy about Dick inquiring about his mothers. That way there's at least one example of someone not being comfortable about the topic (even though it's technically in regards to Damian's mother).

Also, for the guest reviewer who asked about if Jason knew about Dick back in chapter 3 (I forgot to answer your question in the last chapter), he may have been a little uncertain. With Dick and Bruce's relationship being a bit strained during his Robin tenure, it might not have been something he was too familiar with. And if it did, Jason assumed that it would have showed up while he was dead.

Sweat drenched the tips of Damian's hair. Determined panting flew as he reevaluated his form. Across from him was Dick, who was starting to feel the effects of their training. Escrima sticks were defensively placed as he waited for Damian's next move.

Lunging at Dick, Damian would throw a series of punches at him. While a few hits would get in, Dick would deflect several other punches. When an opening presented itself, Dick would jab Damian in the stomach. It was enough to knock him back a few steps, but it wasn't enough to stop Damian. He would change his fighting style, attempting to use his smaller size to maneuver around Dick's attacks.

It wasn't until a foot sent him flying that Damian stopped. He slid across the floor, only to stay down once he stopped.

"Why don't we call it a day?" Dick admitted, offering Damian a hand.

"Alright." Damian groaned, grabbing Dick's hand.

Dick helped pull Damian to his feet. Damian would knock what little dust he managed to collect on his uniform before heading up the stairs with Dick. With no school or other responsibilities, they had been training for a good chunk of the morning. However, they were due for a break and with both of them burning off breakfast and then some, they deserved lunch.

"I just don't get it." Damian stated, taking a bite of mac and cheese. "Given my heritage, I should have gotten mine by now."

"I wouldn't worry too much." Dick admitted, taking a seat across from him. "You're still young."

"But father got his when he was younger than I am, and even Drake has his."

"Well there's still time. I don't have mine yet and I'm older than you."

Damian shot him an annoyed glare.

"You're not exactly what I'd consider a model example Grayson. No one seems to know why, or for that matter worry that yours isn't there. Not to mention you're just weird."

A hand would dramatically fly over Dick's chest. He almost looked genuinely offended.

"You wound me."

A playful grin shot at Damian who was less than impressed by his dramatics. He rolled his eyes before turning his focus to the half empty bowl in front of him.

"My own mother even had hers at my age."

Dick finished chewing what was in his mouth before continuing the conversation. He was a little curious that he brought his mother into it.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your mother's tattoo? I know I've known her for years now, but Bruce was the only one to really ever get up close and personal with her."

Damian was a little irked with the inquiry. He knew Dick didn't mean anything by it, but the fact that he asked was rather bothersome.

"What does it matter?" Damian snapped.

Dick felt a little hurt by his tone, going quiet. Having talked to people who were a little more comfortable talking about it, made him forget that not everyone is so open about it. And even though this was about Talia, he realized that he probably shouldn't have asked. Especially when it was her son that he was questioning.

Damian took note of this shift and felt a little bad for snapping at Dick. He knew that Dick was curious given his predicament, but it was a topic that he normally like getting detailed about. While he could admit that he cared for his mother and grandfather, he was still getting used to the dynamic between them and his father and wanted to leave certain details under wraps. Sighing, he knew he had to say something.

"A black widow on her neck." Damian sighed. "I'm not exactly sure why, but something tells me it has to do with either my father or something more sinister."

Dick was satisfied with the answer for the time being.

"I see."

They finished lunch in silence. They would part ways after finishing, as Damian went off on his own. Dick would start the dishes, both out of the habit of living alone and to help lighten Alfred's workload.

Sometime later Dick found himself in the study. With Damian keeping himself preoccupied, Dick was skimming through a book. Heaver footsteps could be heard entering the room, partially stealing Dick's attention. Peeking out from the top of the book, he noticed Bruce sitting across from him. Hiding his face behind the book wasn't going to do anything now. The slightly stern expression on Bruce's face was enough to imply why he was there.

"You know you could have asked me, right?" Bruce blatantly noted. "It would have went over a little smoother."

"I know." Dick sighted, setting the book down. "We just started talking about the topic because Damian was complaining about it, and I assumed it wasn't going to be that big of a deal."

"Which it was."

Dick knew that there was no denying that. Not wanting to agree with Bruce, he didn't vocally admit to it, moving on.

"It's just, I thought that it would have been more awkward to inquire about your crazy ex-girlfriend, even if she just so happens to be the mother to your child. At least with Damian it shouldn't have been as uncomfortable, given he's relationship with her wasn't as strained up until we took him in. Or at least that's what I thought."

Bruce decided to redirect the focus of the conversation. There was one thought that he wished to go back to. The memory of Dick's less than interested curiosity for the topic in his childhood was still fresh in his mind.

"What happened to you not caring as much? You never cared as much when you were younger. Nor did you like getting overly personal with it."

"Age and the one that I'm still lacking."

"And how many times have we told you not to worry?"

"I don't know. I kind of stopped counting after a while. I just want to know everyone's story so that maybe I'll find someone like me."

A hand landed on Dick's shoulder. Even though the grip itself was an indifferent one, an understanding expression greeted Dick.

"Look, I know this troubles you. Without your parents as a reference or any other case like yours readily available, it can be a little aggravating. I also know you're a little envious of the others too. However, you've got to take a step back from it, because as of right now, all you can do is wait. Investigating everyone in your inner circle is not going to make you feel any better."

Originally my thought with Talia's tattoo was that it was meant to signify manipulation (female black widows kind of use the males before disposing of them and while she may have loved Bruce, she did kind of use him for a child. No offense to Damian). However, when looking up things that black widows symbolize/represent it said how they could be a sign of a strained/uncertain relationship, which hits her and her relationship with Bruce a lot better. It's on the neck because I felt that that's a common place for a spider tattoo (the ankle and wrist probably being others). Plus given that the jugular is there and black widows are deadly (much like how Talia shouldn't be taken lightly) its placing could be looked at from that angle too.